Receptacle opener



Aug. 18, 1931. p COURTNEY 1,819,873

RECEPTACLE OPENER Filed July 51, 1950 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 PATENT OFFICE- NICHOLAS P. COURTNEY, OF PASSAIG, NEW JERSEY RECEPTAGLE OPENER Application filed July 31,

The present invention relates broadly to devices for prying open the lids of cans, .drums and canisters and more particularly to openers of the type attached to the lid itself so as to be sold with the can.

The prime object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufe cture, compact in it's arrangement on the container, eflicient in its action and easy to operate and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is desi ed.

1 y device is attached to cover of the receptacle and is so designed as to fold downward onto the top thereof Without noticeable projection and does not interfere with the stacking of receptacles so equipped.

In its operation of opening the coverpf a receptacle my device may be used many times without replacement and permits the cover of the receptacle to be replaced to its original tightness without interference.

. Another object of the present invention is to provide means which will accomplish the above objects without altering the construction of the standard form of receptacle and without incurring a material increase in cost. A still further object is to produce a device of this character which will not detract from the appearance of the receptacle.

In general our improvement in receptacle opening devices is intended to provide a simpler and better means for accomplishing the foregoing results than has heretofore been made for the purpose.

- In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can showing my device thereon with the plug lid in a fully closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the plug lid pried open.

Figure 3 is a detail section through a portion of the can showing the device holding the plug lid open.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes the can having an annular inwardly disposed lid or shoulder 6 terminating in a depending flange 7 The numeral 8 denotes the plug 11d 1930. Serial No. 472,153.

having a rising annular wall 9 and a head 10. 'Ih1s can construction, of course, is conventional and has this shown merely for the purposes of exemplifying the practical embodiment of the invention. In the wall 9 I provlde an opening 11 immediately under the bead 10.

My improved device comprises an elongated shank 12 here shown curved concentrlcally with respect to the curvature of the can. Projecting laterally from the shank 12 lntermediate the end thereof but adjacent one end thereof is a trunnion 14 journaled in the openmg 11. At the end of the shank 12 remote from the trunnion 14 there is a finger gr1p which is laterally and inwardly disposed and is curved so as to fit over the head 10 when the shank lies along the ledge" or shoulder 6, as is shown in Figure 1. When in this position the finger may be hooked 7 under the grip so as to swing it upwardly thereby causing the end adjacent the trunnion to impinge against the ledge or shoulder 16 (t1hereby causing the prying open of the plug It is thought that the construction, utility, operation and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantages enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. It will be apparent that changes and details of construction, in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as here- 0 inafter claimed and sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In combination, a pair of separably connected members, and an element for separating the members, said element comprising a shank provided with a laterally and intermediately disposed trunnion extending to one side thereof journaled in one of the 0 members so that b swinging the element one end thereof will impin e against the other member to pry the mem ers apart.

2. In combinationi a pair of separably connected members, an an element for separating the members, said element comprising a shank provided with a laterally and intermediately disposed trunnion extending to one side thereof journaled in one of the mem-- bers so that by swinging the element one end thereof will impin e against the other member to pry the mem ers a art, a laterally disposed finger grip' being ormed on the other end of the shank.

3. In combination. a pair of separably connected members, and an element for separating the members, said element comprising a shank provided with a laterally and intermediately disposed trunnion extending to one side thereof journaled in one of the members so that by swinging the element. one end thereof will impinge against the other member to pry the members apart, said members being of curved construction and said shank being curved concentrically with respect thereto.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a can opening element comprising a shank having one end to impinge upon the can and also having a trunnion projecting laterally and intermediately from one side of the shank.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a can opening element comprising a shank having one end to impinge upon the can and also having a trunnion projecting laterally and intermediately from one side of the shank, and one end of the shank being provided with a laterally disposed finger grip.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a can opening element comprising a shank having one end to impinge upon the can and also having a trunnion projecting'laterally and intermediately from one side of the shank, and one end of the shank being provided with a laterally disposed finger grip, said finger grip being disposed in the same general direction from the shank as is the trunnion.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

NICHOLAS P. COURTNEY. 

